Slide assembly for extendable tables



June Z, 1970 M. P. GLOWACKI SLIDE ASSEMBLY FOR EXTENDABLE TABLES 3Sheets-Sheet l Filed June l2, 1967 I5 IOb lOd 4 I5 IIb 5 3 Inventor June2, 1970 M. P. GLowAcKI 3,515,077

y SLIDE ASSEMBLY FOR EXTENDABLE TABLES Filed June l2, 1967 2Sheets-Sheet 2,

. FIG 4 I@ 'l z8 :Ph FEO? f n2 2| FlG. 62022 25 27 30a 30 27 25 4 350' 77, K 29u 23 7 \28\ 32 2(7 25 f k y` f v E ob E 27 0* 26 25 -Y Y 5'. 3229 23 30C3o 2e 29@ 25 Inventor E N Mofrhew P. Glowocki By @MQW AttorneyUnited States Patent O 3,515,077 SLIDE ASSEMBLY FOR EXTENDABLE TABLESMatthew P. Glowacki, 4447 N. Kenton, Chicago, Ill. 60630 Filed .lune 12,1967, Ser. No. 645,218 Int. Cl. A47b 1/02 U.S. Cl. S-89 16 ClaimsABSTRACT 0F THE DISCLOSURE A slide assembly for an extendable tableincluding a -pair of slide structures for allowing table portions to beseparated from one another for placement of a table leaf between thetable portions, each structure being a pair of inter-mating relativelysliding units, and lock means holding the units in locked non-slideableengagement with one another and whereby guide aligner means are providedon the table and leaf portions to intercouple the portions in correctlyaligned relation with one another whereby each guide aligner meansincludes a pair of elements mounted on respective portions, the firstmating element having a flat plate with corrugated lug portions forcomplemental alignment with a vertically extending slotted portion ofthe other mating element or the slide aligner means may comprise a pairof identically extruded and punched plate tab means, one of which isrotated 180 relative to the other for complemental interlocking with oneanother.

This invention relates to an improvement in slide assemblies for tableand leaf portions attendant to increasing and decreasing the length of atable and in particular relates to a unique slide assembly whichprovides for intermating parts held together by fastening means whichtend to separate each slide unit of the assembly from the other andwherein each slide element is provided with abutment means spacedlongitudinally from one another to limit longitudinal movement of oneslide unit with respect to the other and further comprehends guide meanswhich permit the table leaf portions and the table portions to beproperly aligned and nestle against one another. The invention,therefore, has for its objects, purposes and advantages the uniquefeatures o-f providing for a slide assembly comprising a pair ofelements mounted on the under side of a pair of table portions forallowing movement of one table portion away from the other wherein thelower depending portion of each slide element has interm-ating portionsprovided with fastening means for urging the portions away from oneanother to allow for the engagement of one slide element with the otherto prevent longitudinal movement of one element relative to the otherand wherein there is provided separate guide and aligning means in theform of a pair of intermating guide and aligning elements which preventhorizontal movements of either the table portions or leaf portionsrelative to one another by .fastening the guide and aligner elements onthe underside of the respective table and leaf portions, each of theguide and aligning elements having frictional engagement with the otherwhereby the guide and aligning means are permitted to have iiushengagement with the underside surface of the table and leaf portions.

DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an extendabletable including table and leaf portions for receiving the novel slideassembly and guide and aligning means;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along line 2-2 of FIG. 1;

3,515,077. Patented June 2, 1970 flee FIG. 3 is a sectional view of FIG.1 taken along line 3-3 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along line 4-4 of IFIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken along line 5-5 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken from the underside of the table andillustrating the novel guide and aligning means;

FIG. 7 is a sectional -view taken along line 7-7 of FIG. y6;

lFIG. 8 is a partial view of a modied form of the guide and aligningmeans on the underside of the table portion when the table is in theopen position;

FIG. 9 is a view similar to FIG. 8 but showing a guide and aligningmeans in the table portion in the closed table position; and

FIG. 10 is a section taken along line 10-10 of FIG. 9.

DESCRIPTION OF THE SPECIFICATIONS With reference to the drawings and inparticular with reference to FIGS. 1 through 5 there is shown anextendable type of table 1 having a top 2 mounted on a frame section 2aand 2b and having legs 3. The table top 2 is provided with table topsections or portions 4 and 5 which are interconnected with one anotherby extendable table slide assemblies 6 and 7 which are identical to oneanother and provide an opening for receiving the removable table topleaf portion or section 9. Each table slide assembly 6 and 7 has a pairof elongated slide plate structures 10 and 11 which extendlongitudinally of the table, the slide plate structure 10- beingconnected to the table portion 4 and the slide plate structure 11 beingconnected to the table portion 5. The elongated slide plate structure 10comprises a horizontally extending plate portion comprising a downturnedend portion 10a, central ilap portion 10b and corner portion 10c whichis connected to a depending downwardly vertically extending portioncomprising vertical arm portion 10b connected to corner portion 10c andcorner portion 10e connected to a horizontal portion 10f and having ajunction portion 10g connecting with a bowed portion 10h which has acorner portion 10i connecting with a at horizontal portion 10]'. Theslide element 10- is connected to the table portion 5 by the screw 14ewhich extends through an opening 15a in the raised protuberance ordimple 15. The slide element 11 is provided with a flat portion having adownturned end portion 11a, a central horizontal portion 11b and acorner section 11C which is connected to a downwardly extending portion11d which lies against the portion 10b as does the corner portion 11eagainst the corner portion 10e and seats against the corner portion 10gand an outwardly bowed portion 11h is aligned with outwardly bowedportion 10h and provides a space 13 therebetween, the rounded lowerportion 11i connecting the bowed portion 11hr with the corner portion11j resting against the corner portion 11i and the horizontal at portion11k slidingly mating with the end of 10j lying adjacent in upturnedvertical ilange or on 11l connecting with 11k. The portions 10b through10i generally project outwardly in the form of a bowed protuberance tocomplementally align themselves inwardly in the recessed portion formedby the portion 11]c through 11k. Normally the protuberance of theelement 10 can slide relative to the recessed portion of the element 11unless the screw lock or fastening means 12 has its threaded stemportion 11b, as turned by its wing portion 12a, extend through itsjournal portion 12c and into and against the concave side of theoutwardly bowed portion 10h to force the element 10 to have itshorizontal arm 10j, which has its end butting against upright iiange111, to press the two elements 10 and 11 close together to prevent anyrelative reciprocal or sliding movement of one element with respect tothe other. Thus -it is seen that the respective inter-embracing C-shapedportions of elements 10 and 11 that hang from their respective dependingarm portions provide snug engagement between the elements 10 and 11 froma reciprocally sliding motion to a fixed relation by adjustment of thescrew means 12 in its extension in the opening 13, the male and femaleparts of elements 10 and 11 in the C-shaped zones extending the entirelength and being provided with limit or stop means 16, 17 and 18 toprevent separation of element 10 from element 11. The limit or stopmember 16 is punched out of the belly or bowed portion 10h toward one ofthe element 10,v as viewed in FIG. 3, and projects outwardly as seen inFIG. for engagement with the edge 19 of the element 17 The element 11carries towards its left end punched in U-shaped element 17 in the bellyor bowed zone of bowed portion 11h which abuts or engages punched Voutprotuberance or element 18 in the bowed portion 10h of the element andto the right of element 17 as viewed in FIG. 4. Thus the longitudinalmotion of one element with respect to the other is limited and theelements 11 and 10 are prevented from separation from each other.

As best seen in FIGS. 6 and 7 there is provided guide and aligner means20 which are disposed on the table and leaf portions apart from theextendable table slide assemblies 6 and 7. The guide means 20 includes aguide structure 21 which may be mounted on the undertable portion 4 ortable leaf 9 and guide structure 22 which is mounted on the underside oftable portion 5 or a leaf 9, each guide structure 21 and 22 beingcoupleable with one another as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7. The guidestructure 21 is in the form of a plate having an inner plate flatportion 24 being provided with a pair of screw receiving means in theform of a protuberance that projects downwardly from the table in theform of round dimple-like structures 25, 25 provided with screwreceiving holes 26, 26 for receiving therethorugh threaded screws 27, 27which hold the plate portion 24 to the underside of the table or leafportion. The plate 23 is further provided with a downwardly projectingplate vertical portion 28 connected to a lower flat portion 29 to definewith portions 28 and 2-4 a generally Z-shaped plate 23. The plateportions 28 and 29 have punched thereout a pair of protuberances orelongated-like dimples 30, 30 each comprising an upright verticalportion 30a and a horizontal portion 30b in the portions 28 and 29respectively. Each dimple 30 has a tapered portion 30C flanked by platetaper portions 29a, 29a of the plate portion. The complemental guidingstructure 22 has a at plate portion 31 suspending a vertical plateportion 32 provided with a rectangular slot 33 to receive the pron-gedportion 29 of the aligner element 21. The tapered edges 29a, 29a of thepronged portion 29 guide the prong 29 which has a vertical extentapproximate the vertical extent of the slot 33, through the slot 33. Thetapered edges 30C, 30o of the dimples 30, 30 guide the dimples throughthe slot 31 and provide for a frictional engagement between the upperand lower walls of the slot 33. As particularly noticed in FIG. 7, thedished out portions or dimples 25 provide for a cavity between thealigner plate portions and the table portions or leaf portions to allowwood from the table or leaf portions to ll into the cavity as defined bythe bell or dishedout portions 25 permitting the flats 23 and 31 of therespective elements 21 and 22 to be flush against the underside of thetable portions 4 and 5 or the leaf portions 9- In FIGS. 8 through 10there is shown a modified form of the aligner means as shown in FIGS. 6and 7, namely modified guide and aligning means 35 being provided withaligner and guide plates 36, 36. Each guide plate 36, 36' is identicalto the other except that the guide plate 36 has been rotated 180relative to the guide plate 36 to allow for their complementalinterlocking engagement as shown in FIG. 9 and in FIG. 10. Thisidentical construction is 4 easily noticed from reference to FIG. 8 andwhere like parts exist on the corresponding guide plate 36 or 36 theyhave been distinguished from one another by using a prime symbol. Eachguide plate structure 36 or 36 has been punched or pressed out andcomprises respective plate slots 37 and 37 having respective slot edges37a, 37b and 37'a and 37b. These plate slots 37 and 37 divide each ofthe guide plates 36 and 36 into respective tabs 38 and 38 and 39 and39', each having respective outer surfaces 38a and 38'a and innersurfaces 39a and 39a. Each guide plate 36 and 36' is provided with apair of dimples or protuberances 40 and 40 complemental in structure tothe protu-berance 25 of the earlier modification for storage of excesswood to permit flush engagement of the plates 36 and 36 against theunderside of the table portions or leaf portions. The inner part of eachtab 39 and 39 is provided with an upturned edge portion 42 or 42 forguiding the plates 36 and 36 into intercoupling relation. Each of theplates 36 and 36 is provided With a 'back plate portion 45 and 45 whichcarries the dimples or punched protuberances 40 and 40. It is thus seenin FIG. 8 that the separated plates 36 and 36 may be brought together asshown in FIG. 9 such that the tab portion 38 rides under and engages thetab portion 39a that has the upturned portion 42' and that the upturnedtab portion 39a glides over and engages over the plate portion 38a asshown also in FIG. 10. Tapers 43 and 43', 44 and 44 on the respectiveplates 36 and 36 enable careful guiding interlocking relation betweenthe plates 36 and 36 as their respective plate slots 37 and 37 cooperatefor such careful intercouplin-g and sliding engagement alignment of theportions of said plates 36 and 36. The crimps 41 and 41 allowoverlapping of the tab portions of the respective plates 36 and 36. Thusthese plates are identical to one another but merely rotate to face oneanother and provide for accurate, simple and complete guiding aligningand inter-engaging or vcoupling with one another to permit properalignment of the table portions 4 and 5 and the leaf portion or portions9. It is to be noted that each of the punched-out separableprotuberances or dimple-like structures 15 which receive the screws 14for fastening the elements 10 and 11 to the table vary in elevation, thehighest crowned dimple 15 being such to be as close to the end of thetable or table portion it is secured to to permit the table edgeportions that face one another to be deected upwardly so that when theyare moved in adjacent relation to one another or when a leaf is placedbetween these table portions 4 and 5 any sagging of the table portion 4with respect to the table portion 5 will be overcome by the fact thatthey are toed upward by the gradually increasing protuberances 15 asillustrated in FIG. 3.

It is thus seen that the invention provides for a table slide assemblyfor inter-coupling table portions. The sliding assembly comprises a pairof longitudinally elongated intermating slide elements 10 and 11. Eachslide element is longitudinally slidable relative to the other. Oneslide element 10 has a protruding mating portion (10j, 10g, 10h, and10i), the other slide element 11 has a recessed mating portion (11e,11j, 11g, 11h, 11i, 11j, 11k, and 111). The protruding portion isnestled within the recessed portion. Lateral movement limiting means areprovided and include a pair of laterally opposed stops 10i and 11'wherein one slide element portion has its stop 11l overlapping the stop10]l of the other slide element portion. Laterally moveable means orspreader in the form of screw means 12 laterally move the matingportions 10 and 11 deflectingly away to cause stop 11! and 10j to engageone another to prevent longitudinal movement of one element 10 withrespect to the other element 11.

The table arrangement is also provided with guide and aligner meanswhich include a pair of aligner elements such as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7or in alternate modication shown in FIGS. 8 through 10. The alignerelements of FIGS. 6 and 7 include a flat plate 21 having an elevatedprong receivable in upright slotted plate 20. The modification shown inFIGS. 8 through 10 shows two identical aligner elements 36 and 36' oneof which has been rotated 180 with respect to the other to present ilatand upturned portions opposing each other, the npturned portion being inthe form of a prong to t over the at portion of the other alignerelement.

What is claimed is:

1. A table slide assembly for inter-coupling table portions comprising apair of longitudinally elongated intermating slide elements each beingadapted for connection to a respective table portion, each slide elementbeing longitudinally slideable relative to the other, one slide elementharving a supported longitudinally elongated and laterally extendingprotruding mating portion, the other slide element having a supportedlongitudinally elongated and laterally extending recessed matingportion, said protruding mating portion being nestled within saidrecessed mating portion and being longitudinally reciprocally slideablyguidable relative thereto and laterally movable therefrom, lateralmovement limiting means including a pair of laterally opposed spacedapart lateral stops, one lateral stop vbeing constrained for lateralmovement with the protruding mating portion and the other stop beingconstrained for lateral movement with the recessed mating portion, oneslide element mating portion having its stop overlapping the stop of theother slide element mating portion in laterally outwardly obstructingmovement of one slide element relative to the other slide element tomove one stop into engagement with the other to limit longitudinalreciprocal movement of one sleeve element relative to the other, andlaterally movable means operatively associated with each of the matingportions and operative to laterally move said mating portions away fromone another and said stops into engagement with one another, saidrecessed mating portion being generally an elongated U-shaped channeland said protruding mating portion being generally a U-shaped channelnestled in the U-shaped channel recessed mating portion, and one lateralstop being a free end leg ange of the U-shaped channel of the protrudingmating portion and the other lateral stop being a flange connecting witha free end leg of the U-shaped channel of the recessed mating portionoverlapping and spaced from the leg of the protruding mating portion.

2. The invention according to claim 1 and the lateral stop flange of therecessed mating portion being an uptumed end part thereof.

3. A table slide assembly for inter-coupling table portions comprising apair of longitudinally elongated intermating slide elements each beingadapted for connection to a respective table portion, each slide elementbeing longitudinally slideable relative to the other, one slide elementhaving a supported longitudinally elongated and laterally extendingprotruding mating portion, the other slide element having a supportedlongitudinally elongated and laterally extending recessed matingportion, said protruding mating portion being nestled within saidrecessed mating portion and being longitudinally reciprocally slideablyguideable relative thereto and laterally movable therefrom, lateralmovement limiting means including a pair of laterally opposed spacedapart lateral stops, one lateral stop being constrained for lateralmovement with the protruding mating portion and the other stop beingconstrained for lateral movement with the recessed mating portion, oneslide element mating portion having its stop overlapping the stop of theother slide element mating portion in laterally outwardly obstructingmovement of one slide element relative to the other slide element tomove one stop into engagement with the other to limit longitudinalreciprocal movement of one sleeve element relative to the other, andlaterally movable means operatively associated with each of the matingportions and operative to laterally move said mating portions away fromone another and said stops into engagement with one another, and saidlaterally movable means comprising a spreader element carried by onemating portion and engageable with the other mating portion fordeflecting the other mating portion away from the one mating portion inmoving the stop of the other mating portion into engagement with thestop of the mating portion to prevent relative longitudinal movementbetween each slide element, and said spreader element being screw meansthreadable through one mating portion and abutting the other matingportion.

4. A table slide assembly for inter-coupling table portions comprising apair of longitudinally elongated intermating slide elements each beingadapted for connection to a respective table portion, each slide elementbeing longitudinally slideable relative to the other, one slide elementhaving a supported longitudinally elongated and laterally extendingprotruding mating portion, the other slide element having a supportedlongitudinally elongated and laterally extending recessed matingportion, said protruding mating portion being nestled within saidrecessed mating portion and being longitudinally reciprocally slideablyguideable relative thereto and laterally movable therefrom, lateralmovement limiting means including a pair of laterally opposed spacedapart lateral stops, one lateral stop being constrained for lateralmovement with the protruding mating portion and the other stop beingconstrained for lateral movement with the recessed mating portion, oneslide element mating portion having its stop overlapping the stop of theother slide element mating portion in laterally outwardly obstructingmovement of one slide element relative to the other slide element tomove one stop into engagement with the other to limit longitudinalreciprocal movement of one sleeve element relative to the other, andlaterally movable means operatively associated with each of the matingportions and operative to laterally move said mating portions away fromone another and said stops into engagement with one another, and eachmating portion having a part spaced apart from the other part to definea mating spreader space and said lateral movable means comprising aspreader element receivable in said space and cooperatively engageablewith the mating portion parts for their detlecting separation from oneanother.

5. A table slide assembly for inter-coupling table portions comprising apair of longitudinally elongated intermating slide elements each beingadapted for connection to a respective table portion, each slide elementbeing longitudinally slideable relative to the other, one slide elementhaving a supported longitudinally elongated and laterally extendingprotruding mating portion, the other slide element having a supportedlongitudinally elongated and laterally extending recessed matingportion, said protruding mating portion being nestled within saidrecessed mating portion and being longitudinally reciprocally slideablyguideable relative thereto and laterally movable therefrom, lateralmovement limiting means including a pair of laterally opposed spacedapart lateral stops, one lateral stop being constrained for lateralmovement with the protruding mating portion and the other stop beingconstrained for lateral movement with the recessed mating portion, oneslide element mating portion having its stop overlapping the stop of theother slide element mating portion in laterally outwardly obstructingmovement of one slide element relative to the other slide element tomove one stop into engagement with the other to limit longitudinalreciprocal movement of one sleeve element relative to the other, andlaterally movable means operatively associated with each of the matingportions and operative to laterally move said mating portions away fromone another, and table portion guide and aligner means adapted formounting on the underside portions of opposed table edge portionsattendant to in-line linking of the table portions,

said aligner means comprising a pair of aligner elements, each alignerelement having a generally fiat sided portion for engaging fiush withthe respective underside table edge portion and fastening means forattaching said fiat sided portion to the underside of the table edgeportion, one aligner element having prong connecting with the fiat sidedportion and being spaced vertically away from the fiat sided portion,the other aligner element having a prong receiving part having a prongengaging surface for slideably receiving said prong in snug frictionalengagement and holding said prong away from the table portions duringclutching of one aligner element with the other, each of said alignerelements having means limiting lateral and elevational movement of bothaligner elements during clutching, said aligner means being cooperativewith the side elements to present a flush aligned table.

6. The invention according to claim and said fastening means includingan embossment apertured to receive a table portion receiving fastenerand having an away from table outwardly bowed portion to define a tablematerial receiving dimple cavity attendant to entry of the fastener inthe table portion to provide for iiush engagement of the flat sidedportion with the underside table edge portion.

7. The invention according to claim S and said prong being provided withembossment means and said prong receiving part having a recessed partconnecting with the fiat sided portion and spaced outwardly therefrom,the recessed portion defining said prong engaging surface and a secondprong engaging surface to define a prong receiving slot, said secondsurface frictionally receiving said embossment means during clutching toprevent vertical movement of one aligner element relative to the other.

8. The invention according to claim 5 and said prong and a prongreceiving part being in side by side relation and Idening a slotseparating one another, each prong and part being connected with thefiat sided portion, the prong of the one element facing the prongreceiving part of the other element and the prong of the other elementfacing the prong receiving .part of the one element in their assembledpositions, each prong being stepped outwardly of its adjacent prongreceiving part to slide over its opposed prong receiving part on theother aligner element for frictional clasping engagement of prong of theone element with the prong engaging surface of the prong receiving partof the other element.

9. A table slide assembly for inter-coupling table portions comprising apair of intermating longitudinally extending slide elements including afirst slide element adapted for connection with one table portion, saidfirst slide element including a depending table element portion having alaterally extending protruding Imating portion including a stop flange,a second table slide element adapted for connection to the other tableportion and slideably connected with the first slide element andincluding a downwardly extending depending portion having a laterallyextending recessed mating portion having a stop flange adjacent theother stop flange, said protruding mating portion having an inwardlybowed section, and said recessed portion having an inwardly bowedsection, each of the inwardly bowed sections defining therebetween alaterally extending spreader receiving space, and a spreader elementhaving a portion thereof laterally eX- tendable in said space andcooperatively engageable with each of the bowed portions for urging eachstop fiange into engagement with the other attendant to limiting slidingmovement between each of the slide elements, and the bowed portion ofthe protruding mating portion having a longitudinally limiting slide endstop adapted for complemental engagement with the edge bowed portion ofthe recessed mating portion, and said bowed portion of the protrudingmating portion having a pair of longi- -tudinally limiting slide stopsspaced longitudinally apart from one another and extending into saidspace and said bowed portion of said recessed mating portion having alongitudinally limiting stop means extending into the space intermediatethe stops for engagement with each longitudinally limiting stop of theprotruding mating portion whereby the longitudinal limiting stopscooperate with the longitudinally limiting stop means to limit relativelongitudinal motion in either direction of the one slide elementrelative to the other slide element.

10. Guide and aligner means adapted for mounting on the undersideportions of opposed slideable table edge portions of a table attendantto in-line linking of the table portions, said aligner means comprisinga pair of aligner elements, each aligner element having a fiat sidedportion for engaging flush with the respective underside table edgeportion and fastening means for attaching said fiat sided portion to theunderside of the table edge portion, one aligner element having a prongconnecting with the flat-sided .portion and being spaced vertically awayfrom the fiat-sided portion, the other aligner element having a prongreceiving part having a prong engaging surface for sli-deably receivingsaid prong in snug friction engagement and holding said prong away fromthe table portions during clutching of one aligner element with theother, each of said aligner elements having means limiting lateral andelevational movement of both aligner elements during clutching, saidaligner means being cooperative with the slide elements to present aflush aligned table, said prong being provided with embossment means andsaid prong receiving part having an apertured portion connecting withthe fiat-sided portion and spaced outwardly therefrom, the aperturedportion defining said prong engaging surface and a second prong engagingsurface to define a prong receiving slot, said second surfacefrictionally receiving said embossment means during clutching to preventvertical movement of one aligner element relative to the other, and saidapertured portion having side portions defining said slot for limitinglateral movement of said aligner elements during clutching.

11. Guide and aligner means adapted for mounting on the undersideportions of opposed slideable table edge portions of a table attendantto in-line linking of the table portions, said aligner means comprisinga pair of aligner elements, each aligner element having a fiat-sidedportion for engaging fiush with the respective underside table edgeportion and fastening means for attaching said fiat-sided portion to theunderside of the table edge portion, one aligner element having a prongconnecting with the fiatsided portion and being spaced vertically awayfrom the flat-sided portion, the other aligner element having a prongreceiving part having a prong engaging surface for slideably receivingsaid prong in snug frictional engagement and holding said prong awayfrom the table portions during clutching of one aligner element with theother, each of said aligner elements having means limiting lateral andelevational movement of both aligner elements during clutching, saidaligner means being cooperative with the slide elements to present aflush aligned table, said prong being provided with embossment means andsaid prong receiving part having an apertured portion connecting withthe fiat-sided portion and spaced outwardly therefrom, the aperturedportion defining said prong engaging surface and a second prong engagingsurface to dene a prong receiving slot, said second surface frictionallyreceiving said embossment means during clutching to prevent verticalmovement of one aligner element relative to the other, and said prongbeing tapered leading edge means for guidance of the prong into theslot.

12. Guide and aligner lmeans adapted for mounting on the undersideportions of opposed slideable table edge portions of a table attendantto in-line linking of the table portions, said aligner means comprisinga pair of aligner elements, each aligner element having a fiat-sidedportion for engaging flush with the respective underside table edgeportion and fastening means for attaching said fiat-sided portion to theunderside of the table edge portion, one

aligner element having a prong connecting with the flatsided portion andbeing spaced vertically away from the flat-sided portion, the other'aligner element having a prong receiving part having a prong engagingsurface for slideably receiving said prong in snug frictional engagementand holding said prong away from the table portions during clutching ofone aligner element with the other, each of said aligner elements having-means limiting lateral and elevational movement of both alignerelements during clutching, said aligner means being cooperative with theslide elements to present a flush aligned table, and the prong and theprong receiving part being in side by side relation defining a thin slotseparating one another, each prong and part being connected with theflatasided portion, the prong of the one element facing the prongreceiving part of the other element and the prong of the other elementfacing the prong receiving part of the one element in their assembledpositions, each prong being stepped outwardly of its adjacent prongreceiving part to slide over its opposed prong receiving part on theother aligner element for frictional clasping engage-ment of prong ofthe one element with the prong engaging surface of the prong receivingpart of the other element.

13. The invention according to claim 12 and each prong having a leadingupturned edge portion provided for gliding and clearing of the prongover the prong receiving part.

14. The invention according to claim 12 and said prong and said prongreceiving part of each aligner element adjacent said slot having leadingtapered edges providing for proper guiding and aligning of the prongsand prong receiving parts, said slot allowing frictional overlappingengagement of the prongs and prong receiving parts of the aligner means.

15. Guide and aligner means adapted for mounting on the undersideportions of opposed slideable table edge portions of a table attendantto in-line linking of the table portions, said aligner means comprisinga pair of aligner elements, each aligner element having a flat-sidedportion for engaging ush with the respective underside table edgeportion and fastening means for attaching said flat-sided portion to theunderside of the table edge portion, one aligner element having a prongconnecting with the flatsided portion and being spaced vertically awayfrom the flat-sided portion, the other aligner element having a prongreceiving part having a prong engaging surface for slideably receivingsaid prong in snug frictional engagement and holding said prong awayfrom the table portions during clutching of one aligner element with theother, each of said aligner elements having means limiting lateral andelevational movement of both aligner elements during clutching, saidaligner means being cooperative with the slide elements to present aflush aligned table, and said one aligner element comprising a generallyflat flange having the table attaching portion being generally fiat fortable undersurface attachment and defining said generally flat sidedportion, said flange having a second flange portion connecting with theflat-sided portion and for extension beyond the table edge andcomprising two forwardly extending separated laterally aligned tabportions, one tab portion being generally fiat and defining a secondprong receiving part, the other tab portion having a forward generallyhorizontal and fiat portion defining said prong and having a rearoutwardly vertically extending portion connecting said flat-sidedportion for outwardly offsetting said prong for placement over saidfirst named prong receiving part.

16. The invention according to claim 15 and said other aligner elementbeing of identical construction to said one aligner element but oriented180 about a vertical axis with respect to said one aligner element formounting on the undersurface of an adjacent table portion to receivesaid one aligner element attendant to complemental interlocking of thetab portions of each of the aligner elements.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 913,204 2/1909 Dickson 10S-831,531,810 3/1925 Pelton 30S-3.6 1,692,618 10/1928 Bowers 30S-3.62,626,844 1/1953 Cooper 30S-3.6 2,712,972 7/ 1955 Manson et al 30S-3.62,844,430 7/1958 Bogar 30S-3.6 2,865,684 12/1958 Meyer et al 30S-3.63,042,468 7/1962 Rudow et al 108-83 3,084,639 4/1963 Manson 108-893,202,117 8/1965 Zimmerman 10S-89 3,215,475 11/1-965 Manson 30S-3.63,360,307 12/ 1967 Mutchnik et al. 30S-3.6

BOBBY R. GAY, Primary Examiner G. O. FINCH, Assistant Examiner U.S. Cl.X.R.

